Postsecondary Feedback Systems - All State Profiles

Postsecondary feedback systems detailed in this database refer to reports sent to high schools that demonstrate the performance of the high school's recent graduates in postsecondary education. In most cases, the report is prepared by a higher education governing body as a result of a statutory provision; but a number of the reports are prepared on the initiative of the governing body itself. A handful of states include this feedback data on their district and school accountability report cards, and others mandate that the data be used for school improvement purposes. With some exception, the information included in the reports are for the students' freshman year performance.

The postsecondary feedback systems database is designed to allow state policymakers to consider the rationale behind various systems initiatives, determine the policies in place in their state and elsewhere, and consider policy options used in other states that may benefit students and schools in their own state.

This database includes information on:

1. States that have a system to provide postsecondary feedback to high schools/districts

Why does it matter?

High schools need to be able to gauge how well they have prepared their students.

State leaders need a better picture of how high schools and postsecondary systems are aligned.

Twenty-three states have postsecondary feedback systems. Nineteen of those states mandate the feedback report through legislation; in the other four states, the report is produced on the initiative of the higher education board. One state, Montana, produces a feedback report but does not distribute it to the high schools (and therefore is not officially counted as a state with a feedback system).

2. Types of postsecondary institutions that must report data

Why does it matter? It is important that high schools have all of the available data to help them improve. If only some of the public postsecondary institutions report, high schools will only be able to see a part of the picture.

Feedback report data is constrained by the types of institutions that report. Unless otherwise specified in statute, the higher education boards can only compel the institutions under their jurisdiction to report data. Currently, only three feedback reports contain data from private and independent institutions. Delaware's report is based on surveys sent to students, and does not include data from the institutions themselves.

3. Recipients of reports

Why does it matter? Feedback reports ought to be sent to recipients who have the capability of utilizing the data to improve student success in postsecondary education.

Twenty states send their reports directly to the high schools. Three states send the reports to the department of education or district boards of education to be utilized and distributed at their discretion.

4. Areas of information included in the report

Why does it matter? Selecting the right indicators of performance is critical for an accurate and truthful assessment.

For this database, the areas of information in the feedback reports are broken into three categories: information about the high school, postsecondary enrollment and postsecondary performance. The most common performance measure contained in the feedback reports is remediation rates. Other areas of information included in the reports are persistence rates and first year grade point averages. Seventeen states include remediation rates in their reports, while seven include persistence rates. Delaware and South Carolina also include employment information for those graduates who did not continue with postsecondary education.

5. Feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public

Why does it matter? Communities have the right to know how well schools are preparing students for postsecondary education.

Currently, four states include feedback data on their accountability report cards. One state, Ohio, will include the data beginning in 2012.

6. Schools and districts required to use the data for school improvement purposes

Why does it matter? Requiring schools and districts to use the data creates the opportunity to develop strategies aimed at improving the success of their graduates in postsecondary education.

Four states currently mandate that the reports are to be used for improvement purposes. For example, in Florida, the state board of education must ensure that each district and high school develop strategies to improve student readiness for postsecondary education.

Methodology: This information was collected from state statutes, rules and regulations, and state education agencies, and will be updated as new policies and programs are enacted.

Last updated: June 17, 2008

Please contact Jennifer Dounay Zinth at 303.299.3689 or jdounay@ecs.org with comments or questions about this database.

Alabama

Postsecondary Feedback Systems

State has a system to provide postsecondary feedback to high schools/districts

Each community college district and all institutions under the jurisdiction of the board of regents

Recipient of report

The report is first sent to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the superintendent of public instruction and the state board of education. The superintendent then sends the report to each high school included in the report.

Areas of information included in the report

According to statute, the report must include the number of graduates of the school who were enrolled in the institution during the reporting period and information about the academic performance of graduates of the school in mathematics and English courses.

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

Enrollment1. Number enrolled in public 2-year and 4-year institutions (by institution)

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

Yes, the school performance report must include information regarding college remediation rates for each high school.

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

Yes, the state board of education must ensure that each school district and high school develops strategies to improve student readiness for the postsecondary level based on annual analysis of the feedback report data.

The report is a survey sent to students and does not directly involve the postsecondary institutions.

Recipient of report

All high schools in the state

Areas of information included in the report

According to statute, the report must include information regarding postsecondary or employment status. For postsecondary information, the report includes enrollment status (part-time or full-time), major area of study and name of institution where student is enrolled. The employment information must include employment status (part-time or full-time), name and address of employer, industry in which student is employed and the student's salary.

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

All district school boards in the state, the state board of education, the board of governors and the legislature

Areas of information included in the report

High School1. District name2. High school code3. High school name

Enrollment1. Number enrolled in public 2-year and 4-year institutions

Postsecondary Performance1. Number tested, number ready and percent ready by subject (math/reading/writing/all subjects)

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

Yes, as a part of the school improvement plan the state board of education must ensure that each school district and high school develops strategies to improve student readiness for the public postsecondary level based on annual analysis of the feedback report data.

Public 2-year and 4-year institutions under the jurisdiction of the University System of Georgia

Recipient of report

The report is sent to high schools, district superintendents and the state superintendent of education.

Areas of information included in the report

High School1. High school name

Enrollment1. Name of college/university2. Number of freshmen enrolled from this high school3. Number of freshmen enrolled from all public high schools4. Number of freshmen enrolled from private high schools5. Total number of Georgia freshmen enrolled

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

Yes, the school accountability report includes postsecondary remediation rates.

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

No

Sources

Feedback system: Cathy Hudson, Georgia Board of Regents of the University System of GeorgiaInstitution type: Georgia Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, High School Feedback ReportRecipient: Cathy Hudson, Georgia Board of Regents of the University System of GeorgiaAreas of information: Georgia Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, High School Feedback ReportReport card: Georgia Governor's Office of Student Achievement, School Reports

Guam

Postsecondary Feedback Systems

State has a system to provide postsecondary feedback to high schools/districts

No

Hawaii

Postsecondary Feedback Systems

State has a system to provide postsecondary feedback to high schools/districts

No

Idaho

Postsecondary Feedback Systems

State has a system to provide postsecondary feedback to high schools/districts

No

Illinois

Postsecondary Feedback Systems

State has a system to provide postsecondary feedback to high schools/districts

The report must be submitted annually to each high school attendance center located in the state.

Areas of information included in the report

According to statute, the report must include, but is not limited to, the following information: the number of high school graduates enrolled in each public university and the major of each; the number of high school graduates who have withdrawn from each public university; and student performance in university coursework.

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

The public colleges and universities in Kentucky and independent institutions that choose to participate

Recipient of report

The feedback reports are sent to the high schools in the state, the district superintendents' offices and the school board members.

Areas of information included in the report

High School1. District name2. High school name3. Mean cumulative high school GPA (by postsecondary institution type)4. Mean ACT score of students in higher education (by subject and institution type)

Enrollment1. Number and percent enrolled in higher education (by institution type and name)2. Number and percent entered as full-time students3. Number and percent entered with undeclared degree status4. Number and percent entered a certificate or diploma program5. Number and percent entered a 2- or 4-year program6. Percent enrolled who are identified as having developmental needs

Postsecondary Performance1. Percent of students earning a "C" or better in college-level English and math (by developmental need)2. Mean GPA at end of freshman year (by developmental need)3. One semester postsecondary retention rate (by developmental need)4. First to second year retention rate (by developmental need)5. Median number of credits earned during first year (by developmental need)6. Percent of KEES (scholarship) recipients who maintained award in second year7. Declared college major

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

No

Sources

Feedback system: 13 KY. ADMIN. REGS. 2:020Institution type: Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, High School Feedback ReportRecipient: Charles McGrew, Director of Information and Research, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary EducationAreas of information: Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, High School Feedback Report

Louisiana

Postsecondary Feedback Systems

State has a system to provide postsecondary feedback to high schools/districts

All public 2-year and 4-year institutions and 14 state-aided independent institutions

Recipient of report

The reports are sent to the county superintendents and high school principals.

Areas of information included in the report

High School1. District name2. High school name3. Number of graduates

Enrollment1. Number and percent enrolled in college2. Number and percent enrolled in college who took ACT or SAT

Postsecondary Performance1. Percent core/non-core curriculum students needing remediation in college (by remedial need, by gender and race, and by postsecondary institution)2. Percent with "C" or better in first math and English course (by core/non-core, by postsecondary institution, and by gender and race)3. Average grade in first math and English course (by core/non-core, by postsecondary institution, and by gender and race)4. Cumulative GPA after first year (by core/non-core, by postsecondary institution, and by gender and race)

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

High School1. District name2. High school name3. Number of students who took ACT4. Average ACT score

Enrollment1. Number of first-time freshmen (by gender and race)2. Number enrolled in second fall semester

Postsecondary Performance1. Percent of students in remedial math/English/reading2. Number and percent who completed first fall and first spring3. Cumulative GPA for first fall and spring4. Freshman to sophomore retention rate

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

State has a system to provide postsecondary feedback to high schools/districts

No, but the Montana University System does produce a high school feedback report that is distributed only when the individual high school requests it. The report is produced on the initiative of the university system and is not mandated by the legislature.

Types of postsecondary institutions that must report

The 2-year and 4-year colleges that are part of the Montana University System

Recipient of report

The reports are sent to high schools only when requested.

Areas of information included in the report

(High school-level report is not available to the public; the following is information from the county-level report)

High School1. County name

Enrollment1. Percent of students enrolling in higher education the following semester after graduation2. Percent of students enrolling the following fall after freshman year

Postsecondary Performance1. Percent of students enrolling in at least one remedial math or English course

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

All constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina and the community colleges under the jurisdiction of the state board of community colleges and any private institutions that wish to participate

Recipient of report

All public high schools

Areas of information included in the report

High School1. High school name2. Number of graduates3. Average class rank (by postsecondary institution)4. Average math and verbal SAT score (by postsecondary institution)

Enrollment1. Number of graduates that applied to postsecondary institution (by institution and by race and gender)2. Number of applicants who did not meet admission requirements (by institution and by race and gender)3. Percent of applicants that were accepted to postsecondary institution (by institution and by race and gender)4. Number of applicants enrolled in postsecondary institution (by institution and by race and gender)

Postsecondary Performance1. Percent with GPA greater than 2.0/3.0 (by postsecondary institution)2. Percent returning for second semester/second year (by postsecondary institution)3. Percent returning second year with GPA greater than 2.0 and credits earned greater than 30 (by postsecondary institution)4. Percent in remedial English, regular freshmen English, or advanced placement in English (by postsecondary institution)5. Percent in remedial math, other math, college algebra, or calculus or above (by postsecondary institution)6. Percent in honors program (by postsecondary institution)7. Percent in more than one remedial course (by postsecondary institution)8. Average credit hours earned by subject area (by postsecondary institution)9. Average course grade by subject area (by postsecondary institution)

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

The state board of education requires the local boards of education to provide to parents information contained in the feedback reports with the exception of confidential student information contained in the report.

High School1. County/district name2. High school name3. Number of graduates4. Percent with valid course data5. Percent who took at least a minimum core, who took a complete core, who took AP, who took college courses, who took ACT or SAT6. Average college-readiness score (ACT scale)

Enrollment1. Percent of student who completed the FAFSA2. Percent who are first generation college students

Postsecondary Performance1. Average first-term GPA2. Percent who are attending full-time3. Percent who are taking remedial courses4. Percent of first to second year persistence (any Ohio institution)5. Percent who transferred to other Ohio institution

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No; however, by July 2012 feedback data will be added to the report.

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

Postsecondary Performance1. Number passed/failed/received no credit in 13 different subject areas2. Percent of completed courses passed3. (The student-level report also contains information on what developmental classes were required and the student's GPA.)

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

State has a system to provide postsecondary feedback to high schools/districts

Yes, reported through the South Dakota Board of Regents. The report is produced on the initiative of the board and is not mandated by the legislature.

Types of postsecondary institutions that must report

All postsecondary institutions under the jurisdiction of the board of regents

Recipient of report

All high schools in the state

Areas of information included in the report

High School1. High school name2. Number of students who took ACT3. Average ACT score

Enrollment1. Number of graduates enrolled in bachelor's program2. Number of graduates enrolled in associate's program

Postsecondary Performance1. Number of students whose placement exam indicates need for remediation (English and math)2. Number of students enrolled in remedial courses (English, math and unduplicated)3. Average GPA (English, math, general education and unduplicated)4. Number of students enrolled in general education courses5. Number of students who attempted 31 credit hours6. Number of students who earned 31 credit hours

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

No

Sources

Feedback system: Dr. Paul Turman, Director of Academic Assessment, South Dakota Board of RegentsInstitution type: South Dakota Board of Regents, High School Transition ReportRecipient: Dr. Paul Turman, Director of Academic Assessment, South Dakota Board of RegentsAreas of information: South Dakota Board of Regents, High School Transition Report

Tennessee

Postsecondary Feedback Systems

State has a system to provide postsecondary feedback to high schools/districts

No, but the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, in concert with ACT, does develop an annual "High School to College Success Report" for all public and private high school graduates who took the ACT (averaging over 90% of Tennessee high school graduates) and who continue to public higher education in the state. The report is produced through a collaborative effort between the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and ACT, and is not mandated by the legislature.

Types of postsecondary institutions that must report

All public 2-year and 4-year institutions

Recipient of report

All public and most private high schools in the state. (Reports are generated for any high school graduating a student who took the ACT. Since an average of over 90% of Tennessee high school graduates — 96% of 2007 graduates — take the ACT, in practice this translates to all public and most private high schools in the state.)

Areas of information included in the report

Note: "Local" refers to high school for high school-specific reports, and to districtwide for district-specific reports.

High School1. High school name or district name (reports for individual high schools have high school name only; reports for districts have district name only)2. High school GPA3. Local and statewide ACT composite test scores for all students

Enrollment1. Local and statewide students who did/did not persist into year 2 — fall college GPA and first-year college GPA2. Local and statewide students who returned/did not return to the same campus in year 2 — ACT composite score and high school GPA

Postsecondary Performance1. Fall college GPA for local and statewide students — all students and students assigned to developmental courses2. Average fall college GPA for students who did/did not earn ACT college readiness scores across test subjects3. Percent "below" and "at or above" a 2.50 fall college GPA by math course sequence taken in high school4. Percent "below" and "at or above" a 2.50 fall college GPA by science course sequence taken in high school5. Local and statewide fall college GPAs by ACT college readiness standards score ranges6. Fall college GPA by ACT college readiness standards score ranges and test subjects7. Local and statewide ACT composite test scores for all students taking developmental courses by high school core course-taking8. Local and statewide fall college GPAs for all students and for students taking developmental courses by high school core course-taking9. Local and statewide average ACT scores for students assigned to developmental coursework in college across test subjects10. Local and statewide students who did/did not receive a state scholarship — ACT composite score and first year GPA

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

Enrollment1. Number enrolled in public or independent 2- and 4-year postsecondary institutions

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

The feedback report is part of the larger Performance Report produced by the board of trustees in each district in the state. The performance report must be used as a "primary consideration" in district and school planning and in evaluating the performance of state education institutions and leaders.

High School1. County name2. High school name3. ACT composite score4. Percent who took ACT core5. Percent greater than 18 subscore in ACT English6. Percent greater than 19 subscore in ACT math

Enrollment1. Number enrolled in higher education

Postsecondary Performance1. Fall/Spring credits attempted2. Average Fall/Spring GPA3. Percent who completed 30 credit hours in first year4. Percent in developmental math/English in first year5. Percent in any developmental course in first year

Is this feedback data included in school and/or district report cards to the public?

No

Are schools and/or districts required to use this data for school improvement purposes?

To request permission to excerpt part of this publication, either in print or electronically, please contact the Education Commission of the States’ Communications Department at (303) 299.3609 or askinner@ecs.org.